Seedless hybrid maple tree named Celzam

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hybrid maple, which was discovered by me as a variant in a block of Acer on my cultivated property at Perry, Ohio. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel cultivar of an Acer rubrum×Acer saccharinum cross having unusual and distinctive characteristics, now available as Celzam.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 129,401, filed Dec. 3,1987, now abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 895,801, filedAug. 12, 1986, now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of seedlesshybrid maple tree. This tree was discovered in 1967 in Zone 4 growing asa chance seedling among Acer saccharinum seedlings. Its two parents areAcher saccharinum and Acer rubrum. The discovery was made by Mr. JamesZampini, and occurred at Indian Point Farm, Route 84, Perry, Ohio.

This selection is substantially seedless, rapid growth when young, andan extremely dense upright structure. This combination readilydistinguishes it from either of its parents and other varieties of thegenus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings (FIGS. 1 and 2) show typical specimens of thefoliage and form of my new hybrid maple variety as depicted in color asnearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in aphotographic illustration of this character. The color terminology is inreference to the Munsell Book of Color, hereinafter referred to as"Munsell".

Referring now more particularly to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a branchlet of such tree illustrating the foliage thereof;

FIG. 2 shows the dormant tree illustrating the dense upright branchinghabit;

FIG. 3 shows a composite of electronmicrophotographs (Plates 1-4)illustrating hybrid traits of such tree in detail;

FIG. 4 shows the top surface of a tree leaf; and

FIG. 5 shows the bottom surface of a tree leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Strong upright growth and unusually dense branching attracted initialattention to this selection. The branches leave the straight centralleader at an average angle of 45°. Branch tips curve upward and slightlyinwards, creating a tightly ovoid crown. The dense structure isinherited from the Acer rubrum parent.

During the first five years a growth increment of 4 to 5 feet per yearis considered average. Afterwards an average annual growth rate of 1 to2 feet has been observed and calculated as typical for this tree. Thetree is presently 40 feet tall, 18 feet wide, and has a caliper of 15inches at grade. If grown on its own roots, it is expected to reach aheight approximating 50 feet at maturity, and a width of 20 feet.

Common means of propagation involves taking softwood cuttings in earlyto mid June. This method provides a 98% rooting success rate. Buddingonto Acer saccharinum understocks only achieves a 40% take.

The vegetative parts of this hybrid show some specific characteristicsof each parent. The leaves are opposite, simple, and palmate, which is atrait shared by both Acer rubrum and Acer saccharinum. The foliarmorphology is similar to Acer rubrum only in that it is occasionally3-lobed and that it is a medium green (Munsell 2.5 BG 416) to dark green(Munsell 10 G 312) color. The remaining traits are generallycharacteristic of Acer saccharinum.

Leaf blade size averages from 3 to 6 inches in width and from 31/2 to41/2 inches in length. Mature leaves are glabrous above with minutetraces of white down below, particularly near the leaf axils. The palegreen veins on the leaf underside appear yellow in contrast with thegrey color. Newly emerging leaves are salmon in color with brownindumentum underneath, although this is not obvious at a distance andthey quickly become green. Petiole lengths vary from 2 to 7 inches, arealways glabrous, and are normally reddish on the side exposed to thesun. Leaf margins turn red in mid-September, with the whole leafeventually maturing to a deep gold color in October. Leaf tips areacuminate, margins doubly serrate, sinuses entire, the bases hastate tosub-cordate. Most leaves are 5-lobed, occasionally 3-lobed, with themiddle lobe normally 3-lobed.

Abaxial Foliar Surfaces of the tree as described by CultivarIdentification With Scanning Electron Microscopy, a method developed bythe Agricultural Research Service, U.S.D.A., at the Nursery CropsResearch Laboratory, Delaware, Ohio. Unique features of tree inreference to plates 1-4 of FIG. 3 include:

Configuration of Foliar trichomes:

Plate 1 (Magnification×150).--A. Designated with clear arrows. Slenderand spiculate, as found on Acer rubrum. Bar=50 μm. B. Designated withsolid arrows. Obtuse and reduced, as found on Acer saccharinum. Bar=50μm.

Foliar stomata:

Plate 2 (Magnification×3000).--Guard cell surfaces smooth with fringedstomatal lips (see arrows) as found on Acer rubrum. Bar=50 μm.

Epicuticular wax:

Plate 2 (Magnification×3000).--Wax granulate as found on Acer rubrum.Acer saccharinum is exfoliate. Bar=5 μm.

Foliar trichome surface:

Plate 3 (Magnification×3800).--Rugose, as found on Acer saccharinum.Bar=5 μm.

Foliar vein surface:

Plate 4 (Magnification×1500).--Coarse and rugose, as found on Acersaccharinum. Bar=5 μm.

These electromicrophotographs were done with an Hitachi Model S-500Scanning Electromicroscope. Plant specimens consisted of mature leavescollected on July 11, 1986.

Immature twigs are bright green and glabrous with slender verticallenticels. A bright red band encircles the node nearly 1/16th inch widein very new growth. Second year wood is medium brown with oval orangelenticels and is irregularly glaucous. Older stems are silver with smallround, brown lenticels. Leaf scars darken to nearly black and extend indiameter, but never meet. The bark is smooth and grey. Stem pith issolid throughout, changing in color from white to cream to gold inmature twigs, with an increasingly rank odor. Vegetative buds are, inall respects, similar to Acer saccharinum.

The reproductive parts of this hybrid maple tree are perfect. The flowerbuds of this selection are identical with those of Acer saccharinum,varying only in that they open later. This is in accordance with Acerrubrum. Flowers appear in late March to early April before the leaves.They occur at the nodes of the previous year's wood or on the shortspurs of older wood. Petals are a deep reddish color, opening to exposethe numerous stamens of greenish-yellow. These stamens are perfect inform but produce no pollen. The pistils are also perfect in form, andare either red or greenish-yellow in color. There are numerous matureAcer rubrum and Acer saccharinum in the vicinity as potentialpollinators. As the plant has never produced seed of any kind, Iconclude that ovules are either not produced or are not viable as aresult of an unknown hereditary factor. An irregularity during mitosiswhich rendered the plant with a chromosomal imbalance could account forthis reproductive problem. Whatever the cause, the plant issubstantially seedless, as are all successive generations thereof.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of substantially seedless hybridAcer, (maple tree), substantially as herein shown and described,characterized particularly be being substantially seedless, having rapidgrowth when young, and exhibiting an extremely dense upright structure.